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Sunday, March 4, 2012

ORGANISERS of York’s ice rink say it will return to the McArthurGlen
Designer Outlet in November after attracting a record 46,200 skaters
during its recent season.

They say analysis of visitors has shown that almost half came from
outside the county, and the outlet’s shops also saw record sales during
the rink’s season.

Maria Farrugia, executive producer at Lunchbox Theatrical Productions
and organiser of the event, said: “With 45 per cent of customers coming
from outside North Yorkshire, the event is bringing
people into the area, having a direct impact on other businesses in
and around the city.”

She said she believed the increase in skater numbers was a result of
Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland – a funfair, Christmas market and Santa’s
grotto – which was created alongside the rink, as staff
had received so many compliments about it.

She said that the eighth year of the rink was now being planned and
she could confirm that the Winter Wonderland and rink would open on
Saturday, November 24, and run through until January 6, 2013.

Mike Thomas, centre manager for the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet,
said he was “thrilled” the event was such a success in its second year
at the complex.

He said: “We are already planning an even more exciting event this year to ensure our visitor numbers keep increasing.”

The rink was originally based in the Eye of York until complaints from
officials at nearby York Crown Court about noise and disturbance, after
which it relocated to the outlet at Fulford, where there is room for a much bigger skating surface.

The rink won the York Tourism Awards in 2010 and has been voted one of
the top ten ice rinks nationwide by several national newspapers and
best ice rink to visit in the country by BBC Radio 2.